Salix plant named ‘Flamingo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Salix  plant named ‘Flamingo’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; small and durable leaves; developing leaves that are pinkish red in color; fully expanded leaves that are green and greenish white variegated; leaves that resist sunburning; and thick pink to red-colored stems.

Botanical designation: Salix integra.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Flamingo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salixplant, botanically known as Salix integra, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Flamingo.

The new Salix is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Salixintegra cultivar Hakuro Nishiki, not patented. The new Salix wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within apopulation of plants of the cultivar Hakuro Nishiki in May, 1996 in acontrolled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since January, 2003,has shown that the unique features of this new Salix are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Flamingo have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Flamingo’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Flamingo’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofSalix:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit.    -   2. Small and durable leaves.    -   3. Developing leaves pinkish red in color; fully expanded        leaves, green and greenish white variegated.    -   4. Leaves that resist sunburning.    -   5. Thick pink to red-colored stems.

Plants of the new Salix can be compared to plants of the parent, thecultivar Hakuro Nishiki. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inBoskoop, The Netherlands, plants of the new Salix differed from plantsof the cultivar Hakuro Nishiki in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salix had a more upright growth habit than        plants of the cultivar Hakuro Nishiki.    -   2. Plants of the new Salix had smaller and thinner leaves than        plants of the cultivar Hakuro Nishiki.    -   3. Plants of the new Salix had thicker stems than plants of the        cultivar Hakuro Nishiki.    -   4. Developing leaves and stems of plants of the new Salix were        more red in color than developing leaves and stems of plants of        the cultivar Hakuro Nishiki.    -   5. Leaves of plants of the new Salix resisted sunburning whereas        leaves of plants of the cultivar Hakuro Nishiki sunburned.

Plants of the new Salix can also be compared to plants of the Salixintegra cultivar Pendula, not patented. Plants of the new Salix differprimarily from plants of the cultivar Pendula in plant shape as plantsof the cultivar Pendula have cascading stems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Salix.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical plant of ‘Flamingo’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a close-up view of atypical plant of ‘Flamingo’.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical stemsand leaves of ‘Flamingo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Boskoop, The Netherlands in anoutdoor nursery during the late spring with day temperatures rangingfrom 7° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 14° C.Plants were grown in containers and had been growing for about two yearsin 19-cm containers when the photographs and description were taken.Plants were pinched one time. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Salix integra cultivar Flamingo.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Salix    integra cultivar Hakuro Nishiki, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at 15° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About six months at            10° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit;            globular. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy            appearance. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 1.75 meters.        -   Plant diameter.—About 1.75 meters.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing stems: 143B            overlain with close to 186A. Color, fully developed stems:            143B overlain with close to 175A to 175B.-   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple; sessile.    Length: About 4.2 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Elliptic-oblong to    ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper    and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate.    Color: Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 37B to    37C; venation, 52B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Random    sectors, areas and spots of 137A, N144C, 145D and 157D; venation,    194B with a pink blush. Leaves resistant to sunburning. Fully    expanded foliage, lower surface: Random sectors, areas and spots of    137B to 137C, N144C, 145D and 157D; venation, 194B with a pink    blush. Venation, upper surface: 146C. Venation, lower surface: 137A.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on    plants of the new Salix.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Salix have not been noted    to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Salix.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Salix have been observed to    tolerate temperatures from −10° C. to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salix plant named ‘Flamingo’, asillustrated and described.